APPENDIX I
Jewish Months (as they begin with the “ceremonial year”)
The first names were adopted by the Hebrews after the
Babylonian captivity—they are Babylonian names. The second names are
those known by the Hebrews before the captivity and found in the Bible. Where
they are the same, the Biblical record does not share another name.
Nissan—Abib (Exodus
12:2-37;
Exodus 13:4;
Nehemiah 2:1;
Esther 3:7)
This month holds the first of the three traditional
Pilgrimages in
Anther important event of this month is Holocaust
Remembrance Day (Yom Ha-Shoah). This happens on the twenty-seventh of Nissan,
six days after the conclusion of the Festival of Unleavened Bread. It is Spring,
and if all is well, there is plenty of late rains.
Iyar— Zif (1 Kings
6:1)
This month holds the modern Israeli Independence Day
celebration (Yom Ha-Atzmaut) which happened 14 May1948 (5 Iyar 5708). It is also
a second Pesach for those who missed it in the previous month.
Sivan— Sivan (Esther
8:9)
This month holds the second of the three traditional
Pilgrimages in
Tummuz—
Tammuz (Ezekiel
The seventeenth of this month is a day of mourning, a
fast day. This was the time the Israelites produced the golden calf while Moses
was away up the mountain for forty days. Moses interceded for the people and
they were spared. God forgave them. Moses went up the mountain for another forty
days. This was the month the Noah traditionally sent out the dove.
Av—
Ab
The ninth of this month is a day to mourn the
destruction of the first and second temples, simply called Tisha B‘av (ninth of
Av). According to Jewish tradition, Moses went up the mountain a third time for
the new Torah for another forty days. These forty days will count right up to
Yom Kippur (the day of
forgiveness and reconciliation - see below). The
twelve spies were said to have explored the promised land this month, and ten
gave a fearful report.
Elul—
Elul (Nehemiah
This month marks the end of summer. The grain harvests
are done and the grape, olive and date harvest is still to commence.
Tishrei—
Ethanim (1 Kings
8:2)
The first day of the month marks the Jewish New Year,
called Rosh HaShanah (Head of the Year). This is the fourth of the seven
biblical holidays.
Then on the tenth of Tishrei is Yom Kippur (the Day of
Forgiveness). This is the fifth of the seven biblical holidays.
On the fifteenth of Tishrei begins the third and final
pilgrimage for the year. It is the Festival of Sukkot (Festival of Booths or
Tabernacles). This goes for seven days and is the sixth of the seven biblical
holidays. For the week, Jews will live in thatched enclosures to remind
themselves of the time the Israelites lived in the desert.
On the twenty-third, the festival is concluded with
the Shemini Atzeret (eight day of the festival) and the Simchat Torah
celebration where the reading of the Torah is completed and will begin again for
another year. This is the last of the biblical holidays. The Torah will be read
in the synagogues all year round to be ready to start again at this time. This
is a time to remember that God weighs our deeds.
These festivals happen now to celebrate the fruitful
harvest and to pray for next season’s rains. It is a time to party before winter
sets in of another year.
This month [Tishrei] ends the
“religious” or “ceremonial” year of the Hebrews.
It is also the first month of the 12 month civil year.
Heshvan—[Mar]Cheshvan—
Bul (1 Kings
The seventeenth of this month has traditionally been
the month the great flood (mabul) began. This month is also called ‘Bul.’
Kislev—Chisleu (Zechariah
7:1)
On the twenty-fifth of this month is the Festival of
Chanukah and this goes for eight days and a special eight candle menorah is used
to commemorate the miracle of a small amount of consecrated oil lasting the full
eight days in the temple. This happened after Judas Maccabees defeated Antiochus
IV of the Seleucid empire and the temple was cleansed from pagan corruption.
This has traditionally been the time of the first rainbow.
Teveth—
Tebeth (Esther
It can be snowing in
Shevat—
Sebat (Zechariah 1:7)
On the fifteenth of Shevat is Tu bi-Shevat the nature
holiday. This is a special day for planting trees. There are new leaves
appearing after winter.
Adar—
Adar (Esther 3:7)
On the fourteenth and fifteenth of Adar is the Feast
of Purim to remember how the Jews were saved from their enemies in
On some years there is a second month of Adar so that
the Jewish lunar year catches up with the solar seasons.
The Jews called that Ve-adar, the Babylonians Adar II.
Months As They Relate to Our Calendar
in the Jewish Civil Year
• Tishri — Sept 16 —
• Chesvan — Oct 16 —
• Kislev — Nov 14 —
• Tevet —
• Shevat — Jan 11 —
• Adar 1 — Feb 10 —
• Adar 2 — Mar 12 —
• Nisan — Apr 10 — May 9, 2005
• Iyar — May 10 —
• Sivan — June 8 —
• Tamuz — July 8 —
• Av — Aug 6 —
• Elul — Sept 5 —
Sequence of Months in Their Ceremonial Calendar
1.
Nisan (Nehemiah 2:1, Esther 3:7)
2.
Iyyar (not named in Scripture)
3.
Sivan (Esther 8:9, Baruch 1:8)
4.
Tammuz (cf. A.V. Ezekiel
5.
Abh (not named in Scripture)
6.
Elul (Nehemiah
7.
Tishri (not named in Scripture)
End of
ceremonial year.
8.
Marheshwan, or simply Heshwan (not named in Scripture)
9.
Kislew (Zechariah 7:1, Nehemiah 1:1)
10.
Tebeth (Esther
11.
Shebhat (Zechariah 1:7, 1 Maccabees
12.
Adar (Ezra